Tree Blog

Quercus rugosa | East Palo Alto

Here we see Netleaf Oak (Q. rugosa) growing along the 101 Freeway in East Palo Alto, California. The tree was planted from a number fifteen container roughly ten years before the photo was taken, and the wall behind the tree is twelve feet tall. These trees have proved very popular with people who are exposed to them. It should be noted Netleaf Oak remains an experimental species in coastal California, and it seems to thrive in near-coastal environments, such as the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Netleaf Oaks in Davis, much hotter and far from the ocean, appear to struggle a bit with drought and heat, but are clearly survivors.